Measles and polio: Addressing vaccine hesitancy

ZIMBABWE continues to be saddled with the disease burden of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and polio that significantly contribute to its infant and child mortality rates.

Vaccine preventable deaths are inexcusable and tragic. They stem from vaccine hesitancy and this continues to pose challenges for the country to reach its immunisation targets to reduce mortality rates.

Vaccine hesitancy hinges on socio-cultural or religious factors.

A study conducted by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and UNICEF Zimbabwe in Masvingo and Manicaland highlighted the influence of religion in the uptake of vaccination services, particularly the uptake of maternal and child health services. The association of death to God’s will and law has seen many religious objectors neglecting their children’s health.

In light of that, childhood diseases and related deaths are treated as spiritual issues which modern medicine and vaccines “cannot prevent because it is the will of God”.

Such behaviour make the eradication of vaccine-preventable disease a difficult goal to achieve.

Manicaland is the hub of these religious objectors and more needs to be done now more than ever if the current vaccination blitz are to bear fruit.

A vaccination rate of more then 95 percent of children between six months and five years of age is recommended to attain herd immunity.

The measles vaccination blitz targeting 2 130 088 children nationwide can only be a success if we all put our hands on the deck.

lt is sad that Manicaland has recorded the highest number of measles cases and deaths.

But as we are still battling to ensure all children between six months and five years are vaccinated against measles, the threat of polio is now looming over our heads following the disease’s outbreak in neighbouring countries.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care will roll out an immunisation blitz against polio in the coming weeks. Although the polio virus is yet to be detected in Zimbabwe, precautionary measures will ensure its prevention. Unvaccinated children remain susceptible to measles and polio, and this is further compounded by clustering effects, as parents of these children live in close proximity, thereby concentrating areas of vulnerability and increasing the likelihood of outbreaks.

The highly infectious nature of the diseases can only be suppressed through regular immunisation and herd immunity.

Unfortunately the current measles outbreak is spreading more in under-vaccinated religious communities.

As a nation, we need to address vaccine hesitancy by engaging communities and presenting to them accurate information on vaccination.

We also need to debunk religious and cultural myths on vaccines and integrate a vaccination framework with the help of cultural, religious and community leaders.

We need to adopt a framework where community health workers integrate local languages to disseminate information to improve community knowledge on vaccines and improve confidence in the ongoing vaccination blitz.

Without heightened awareness and adequate knowledge on the importance of vaccination, the propensity of vaccination diminishes. Strategies to overcome vaccine hesitancy should also include availing evidence-based information in an atmosphere of mutual trust.

As a last resort, maybe the introduction of compulsory vaccination might help save the children’s lives.

Traditional leaders are generally respected in their communities, and that respect comes with influence over other community members.

Therefore such opinion leaders need to take a lead in mobilising people for vaccination.

Reminder systems will also help in ensuring parents get their children vaccinated.

Vaccinations should be undertaken consistently to prevent all contagious diseases.

From a public health perspective, we should not even be waiting for an outbreak to push us to take vaccines.